REVIEW: TROPHY 2352 WALKAROUND

Trophy’s smart 2352 should make hunting out big tuna a stroll in the park

Imagine you were given a clean sheet of paper, carte blanche to design a new trailerable sportsfisher for 2007. What would it have? Walkaround decks, a big cockpit, built-in fishing features, a hardtop, diesel power, and family appeal for those non-fishing days? If you answered yes to the above then you would be well on your way to designing the new Trophy 2352 Walkaround, a smart boat perfect for the current fishing climate.The Trophy 2352 is built on an especially high-volume, beamy hull, with a deep forefoot and raised bow that, fast or slow, lifts up over the waves and maintains a seaworthy profile in conditions normally reserved for the big boys. But it’s the power plant that will really put a smile on your dial.Now offered with a turbocharged, fully electronic four-cylinder 200hp Cummins MerCruiser diesel inboard, the 2007 Trophy 2352 is nothing if not frugal. At a 20kt cruise – an ideal speed for covering the sea miles without breaking your back – you’re looking at 34 to 38lt/h fuel consumption. At trolling speed expect it to consume at leat half that.With 473lt of fuel in a long-range tank, you are assured of a tournament-fishing range. But just as importantly, the key fishing features are many, supplied as an integral part of the overall design. The smart, moulded cockpit liner hides twin underfloor fishwells and a decent livebait tank. There are gaff racks and a walkthrough transom, which allows you to reach out behind the sterndrive leg. There is also portable icebox for toting lunch or pre-rigged baits. Add the optional Pro Pack as seen on this demo boat and you get a hardtop that’s so well supported on integral glassed-in mounting plates that you can swing from its rails.But all of this is typical of the new generation of Trophy sportsfishers, which resulted from, well, the design team being given a clean slate. The boats are now exceedingly well engineered and have an edge on their competition in respect of the diesel power option and, it must be said, their cost.

SOUND FOUNDATIONSThough it’s a high-volume hull, the 2.59m beam on the 2352 means it’s trailerable with a permit. On road, dry, the rig weighs 2757kg. So by the time it has been made tournament ready and the tanks are full it will be nudging 3500kg; not an impossible tow with a large 4WD. But take a tip: mind the forecourt canopy at the service station when you drive in to refuel.On the construction front, Trophy has gone to great lengths to make sure this boat can handle long-haul offshore fishing. Backed by a 10-year hull warranty, the boat has a one-piece foam-filled fibreglass stringer system glassed to the hull, vinylester resin to prevent osmosis in case you want to leave it in the water, and engineering refinements you can’t see but can read about.For example, the long-range fuel tank is mounted on a pillar, meaning it can’t move no matter how hard the boat is driven into the back of a wave. On the electrical front, all the wiring travels through PVC conduits to eliminate any chance of damage. There is also a complete deck drainage system around all the hatches and plumbed items, plus big scuppers, for quickly offloading any water. To broaden the 2352’s appeal the importers ordered the optional cushion package, which includes drop-in aft quarter seats and a padded cover over the engine box to create three additional seats in the cockpit.Having an electric head with holding tank in the cabin also raises the comfort factor, while at anchor the three-quarter boarding platform and swim ladder play into the hands of swimmers. There are full camper covers, too, so you can create a comfortable enclosure for those nights up the river.The decent vee-berth in the cabin helps to make this boat a nice weekender. When not being used for overnighting, this cabin will come in handy for dry storage, of course.

BIG DECKSThe non-skid sidedecks of the 2352 Walkaround and a decent bowrail assist with your passage forward. The forward deck has a small seat but, more importantly, a nice, flat casting or fish-fighting area backed by a high bowrail. A windlass is, I’m told, a popular option, though serious fishers will want a true deep-water anchoring ability and probably go for a buoy-retrieval system. The well looks like it could hold a fair coil of 12mm Silver rope and the boat has a sturdy moulded bowsprit with roller.The optional moulded hardtop was something else; a stand-out feature that turns this boat into a serious all-weather walkaround. Though they weren’t fitted, outriggers could be mounted off the hardtop. A four-pot rocket launcher was provided.Clear curtains are an option that I would fit to create an all-weather enclosure.As touched on, the hull has a high bow and, with some flare in the topsides and a decent hard chine, it shouldn’t become wet at all.

COCKPIT CAPERSUnsurprisingly, the self-draining cockpit on the 2352 Walkaround is of a good size for offshore fishing. Traced by optional (removable) padded coamings, it’s big enough for three or four anglers, with plenty of shoulder and fish-fighting room, built-in features and seats on which to bide time between bites.Anglers will appreciate the thigh support and toe space and the boat’s inherent stability gained by the weight of the inboard engine down low and batteries and fuel under the floor amidships. The central engine box is raised but it isn’t too imposing. There’s still good access to the cockpit corners and back through the starboard walkthrough door.The twin rod, gaff or tagpole racks with built-in PVC tubes under each gunwale, the twin subfloor fishboxes (each big enough to bring home a decent mahi mahi, wahoo or school tuna), and the non-skid moulded deck team together nicely.The boat also has six rodholders, drinkholders on deck and aft hawsepipes and under-gunwale cleats to keep the gunwales snag-free. All the deck gear is mounted to backing plates. Add the cushion package and the entire transom turns into a lounge for three or four happy kids.The livebait tank, tending on the small side at 45lt, is built-in behind the helm seat. Behind the co-pilot’s seat is an aft-facing crew seat, under which resides the portable Igloo icebox. You could mount a portable 12V fridge here.The electrical system includes breakers rather than fuses and a battery switch, allowing you to isolate the house supply, but there is no dockside power option. The engine has a decent 80-amp alternator, however, which should drive most things.There are drains around the engine box, which lifts forward but not on gas struts, and both manual and automatic bilge pumps to assist with keeping this compartment dry. The four-cylinder 2.8lt 200hp Cummins MerCruiser diesel had good servicing room and access to the primary pre-departure check items, such as the sea strainer, oil dipstick and belts (the motor doesn’t appear to have a coolant reservoir bottle).All the seacocks on the 2352 are bronze, double clipped and labelled. The boat was also fitted with a small 30lt freshwater water supply for the manual-pump sink in the cabin.

CABIN AFFAIRSitting space, storage and an easy-clean finish are features of the cabin, which stretches full-width under the walkaround decks. The vee-berth with dinette can handle three and, with the infill in place – which is kept in a dedicated storage nook – you get a big double bed.There are under-bunk storage areas, rod racks on the sides, and shallow side pockets. Good to see flyscreens on the opening portlights and escape hatch and, with simple vinyl upholstery and front-runner wall lining, it shouldn’t be hard to maintain.Amenities at the galley include a small stainless steel sink and freshwater supply, a simple butane single-burner stove, and some storage space. The head has an upgraded electric loo and holding tank.

ON THE WATERThe hardtop provides shade and weather protection at the helm, which has an accommodating radio box, while the dash has plenty of room for flush-mounting a spread of electronics. The waterproof switch panel controls the pumps for the fishwells and livebait tank, cockpit lights, wipers and more. There was also a 12V accessory plug.The stainless steel wheel, sturdy grabrails and windscreen supports all mean business. The skipper gets a handy watertight storage tube for personal items. Further storage exists in the helm seat box. But best of all, there is plenty of elbow space and head room for three people to run to the grounds, with additional crew seated or standing behind.With direct injection and an electronic control system, the 2.8lt 200hp Cummins MerCruiser diesel is just a nice thing to have in your fish and/or family boat. It’s not noisy or unpleasant like the diesels of yore and, with excellent low-end torque and Lenco trims tabs if you need them, the boat jumps out of the hole.With full tabs and leg in-trim the 2352 planed at 12 to 13kts at 2300rpm – a useful heavy-weather speed for punching through a headseas, while a nice low-speed cruise of 18kts was clocked at 2500rpm. Deadrise of 20 degrees equates to a deep-vee, which assists the ride, but at the above cruising speed it’s the forefoot that does most of the work. In other words, the 2352 with diesel inboard shouldn’t get too airborne.The boat cruises at 2800rpm for 21.5kts, and has a fast cruise of 23.6knots at 3000rpm. These are similar offshore speeds to most run-of-the-mill battlewagons, only fuel consumption (according to the MerCruiser graphs) is just 35 to 40lt/h at cruise. The maximum continuous fast speed was 28.4kts at 3400rpm and top speed was 31.8kts.The boat feels steady on its feet at trolling speeds. Although I wouldn’t back it up too often, preferring to fight fish off the aft quarter, it does go backwards. But you need to jump on and off the peg to let the optional three-quarter boarding platform pop back up. There’ll be plenty of water aboard otherwise.The purpose-built Trophy range of bluewater boats has undergone an interesting change in the last, say, five years. They keep getting better and smarter to the point I now consider them at the forefront of design and value for money. And, with desirable diesel power, boats like the 2352 are affordable to run.

WHAT WE LIKEDVery efficient and economicalClean-running engine with a nice fish-raising sound at trolling speedA very good hull, with plenty of freeboard and crew space and stabilityPackaged with a good spread of fishing featuresHandy lockup cabin with electric looRoom to sleep overWell-known badge with great backing and resale value

NOT SO MUCHVery big boat to towSmall deck cleatsEngine box on the cockpit floorNeeds outriggers and deep-water fish-finding electronicsNo option of a freshwater or even saltwater deckwash